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Hazing Policies

Hazing is prohibited by state law and University policy including the University’s Standards of Conduct. The University does not condone hazing in any form. The University defines “hazing” as any action taken or situation created by a member(s) of a student organization toward one or more organization members or toward prospective members (as a part of the new member selection process) that occurs on University-owned or leased property or at University-sponsored or supervised functions or at the local residence of any University student, faculty member, or employee, and that is designed to or produces mental or physical harassment, discomfort, or ridicule. Such activities and situations include, but are not limited to, creation of excessive physical or psychological shock, fatigue, stress, injury, or harm. Student organizations and/or individual members found to have engaged in hazing as defined in this statement shall be in violation of University policy and the University’s Standards of Conduct and may also be in violation of state law. The state statute on hazing, Section 18.2-56 of the Virginia Code, states:

“It shall be unlawful to haze so as to cause bodily injury, any student at any school, college, or university.

Any person found guilty thereof shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Any person receiving bodily injury by hazing shall have a right to sue, civilly, the person or persons guilty thereof, whether adults or infants.

The president or other presiding official of any school, college or university receiving appropriations from the state treasury shall, upon satisfactory proof of the guilt of any student hazing another student, sanction and discipline such student in accordance with the institution’s policies and procedures. The institution’s policies and procedures shall provide for expulsions or other appropriate discipline based on the facts and circumstances of each case. The president or other presiding official of any school, college or university receiving appropriations from the state treasury shall report hazing which causes bodily injury to the attorney for the Commonwealth of the county or city in which such school, college or university is, who shall take such action as he deems appropriate.

For the purposes of this section, “hazing” means to recklessly or intentionally endanger the health or safety of a student or students or to inflict bodily injury on a student or students in connection with or for the purpose of initiation, admission into or affiliation with or as a condition for continued membership in a club, organization, association, fraternity, sorority, or student body regardless of whether the student or students so endangered or injured participated voluntarily in the relevant activity.”

Any violation of Section 18.2-56 shall be deemed a violation of the University’s Standards of Conduct.

The Dean of Students or his or her designee shall inform the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inter-fraternity Council, the Inter-sorority Council, the Multicultural Greek Council, and all fraternities, sororities, and student organizations who have executed contracts with the University as Fraternal Organizations or as Contracted Independent Organizations of the provisions of Section 18.2-56 of the Code of Virginia and of this University policy.

Anyone with concerns about hazing and the well-being of our students is encouraged to contact the Office of the Dean of Students/Fraternity & Sorority Life directly at ask-fsl@virginia.edu or 434-924-7430, or call the hazing hotline at 434-243-4293. All information will be handled discreetly and efficiently.